I've always stored the pictures on my computer in folders because I like to keep things organized. The problem is, I've come to want more from my pictures. I want to be able to view them without having to navigate through subfolders and the ability to edit the odd pic would be wonderful.
I desperately want to use iPhoto as I often use iMovie and I like the ability to share photos among the different programs. I also just like the interface and how it works.
What I don't like however (and may not be able to get past) is how iPhoto stores your photos in it's library. To me, it's simply unacceptable. I mean, what happens if I want to view my pictures on a Windows PC or my Xbox 360? Also, what happens if I want to develop some pictures or upload them to flickr? I'd have to search through all the crazy iPhoto folders! I just think that the way iPhoto stores pictures would make things difficult.
Now I know you can turn this feature off and tell iPhoto to "not store copies of each photo in the library", but that presents another issue - folder monitoring. Let's say I keep my folders intact and point iPhoto there. That's all fine but I have to run a manual import into iPhoto everytime because it doesn't know enough to update itself. I suppose the program "Hazel" could help me here but I'm not completely sold.
Am I missing something that could make my life easier, or should I just use Picasa?
Mac Specs: White MB, Core Duo, 2g RAM, 32 gig iTouch
You should just use iPhoto and get past the windows way of organizing! Using iPhoto is so simple, and it organizes your photos beautifully. Just stay out of the library in finder and you will be fine. Use keywords when you import and you will immediately be able to find any picture you want. Using smart albums, etc. is another good way to organize easily. If you want to upload to flickr or something (and if there is not an uploader available for iPhoto -- in most cases there is one), just drag the photo to the desktop and upload from there. Could not be more simple.
Using Folders and albums is yet another way to easily organize. A folder for "Vacations", then albums for "Spring 2009", "San Francisco 2008" or whatever will allow you to readily find your photo.
Mac Specs: Black Macbook C2D 2GHz 3GB RAM 250GB HD
You don't need to go through the folder hierarchy to access your photos. Simply select the photos you wish to use at that particular moment and drag them out of iPhoto onto your desktop (or anywhere else) and then you can do with them as you please without affecting the originals. This is great for when you need to upload or share a few pictures.
Mac Specs: Macbook 13" 2.13GHz - Intel Core 2 Duo 2GB DDR2 Memory - 160GB HD - NVIDIA GeForce 9400M
Also, for instance, when choosing images to upload on say, Flickr, when Safari's "Open" dialog box comes up, look for the "MEDIA" item on the left side of the window at the bottom. Click the disclosure arrow and it should show "Photos" Select that and you'll have the option of browsing iPhoto and Photo Booth. In the case of iPhoto, you can go through by Events and Photos or any other albums you have. Pretty sweet, and I just found out about it yesterday.
Can't help with that other stuff though, sorry.
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I'm not a Mac. I'm not a PC. I'm a person.
Mac Specs: Mac Specs: 13" MacBookPro 2.26 GHz, 2 Gb, 160 GB, OS X 10.5.8
I agree with Grudge ... I, too, hate iPhoto. I switched to Mac 2 months ago and I tried patiently with iPhoto. I love all the other applications on my Mac but iPhoto gets on my nerves. I have over 100Gb of photos stored on my HD. Properly arranged in folders by date. Now I just tried moving some of those folders to iPhoto and all my structure was lost. iPhoto arranged those photo I dont know in what way but the whole thing is in one library? I didnt want to move them any more. I am installing Picasa 3 today ... at least I can have my folder structure intact ...
Last edited by rman; 08-25-2009 at 10:25 PM.
Reason: lang
I thought I'd update this post after switching to iPhoto back in August of this year.
It's been great. I don't have to worry about making folders/subfolders for everything. I just import into iPhoto and let it handle things. Of course I can rename and merge events after the fact as well.
It's so much better (in my opinion) than my old method which was using Image Capture to import to folders.
I really like the "faces" and mapping features as well.
I agree with Grudge ... I, too, hate iPhoto. I switched to Mac 2 months ago and I tried patiently with iPhoto. I love all the other applications on my Mac but iPhoto gets on my nerves. I have over 100Gb of photos stored on my HD. Properly arranged in folders by date. Now I just tried moving some of those folders to iPhoto and all my structure was lost. iPhoto arranged those photo I dont know in what way but the whole thing is in one library? I didnt want to move them any more. I am installing Picasa 3 today ... at least I can have my folder structure intact ...
I'm wondering how you imported them. I too had thousands of photos neatly stored in folders. Selecting the folders and dragging them into iPhoto resulted in an Event for each folder, named with the folder name. Perhaps you need to look at your preferences.
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Happiness is not getting what you want, but wanting what you get.
Mac Specs: White MB, Core Duo, 2g RAM, 32 gig iTouch
Yes, you need to move those folders folder by folder if you want to keep the structure. Time consuming, I know, but easier and quicker than re-doing your organization.
Yes, you need to move those folders folder by folder if you want to keep the structure. Time consuming, I know, but easier and quicker than re-doing your organization.
Not true - I highlighted all the folders in one go and iPhoto put each folder into it's own event with the folder name as the event name.
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Happiness is not getting what you want, but wanting what you get.
